Archive for December 31st, 2011
December 31st, 2011 | 
Author: By Sherine El Madany – Reuters
Egypt expects revenues of tourism to rebound more than one third the next year if the security situation improves in the wake of the rebellion state that overthrow Hosni Mubarak in February and the subsequent political turmoil sent the tourists packing.
Tourism used to account for over one-tenth of Egypt’s gross domestic product (GDP) before the unrest this year, and also employs about one in eight in a country where high unemployment triggered outrage which led to the revolt.
“We can go back to the numbers 2010 12.5 billion in terms of revenue and 14.7 million tourists by 2012 if changing perceptions. And perception will not change unless the applicable security and calm restored “Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.
Security across the most populous country in the Arab world deteriorated after the State police forces melted away from the streets at the end of January and after Mubarak’s's dismissal. But the newly appointed Government says it will tighten security and beef up police presence on the streets. “Police are now more present in the streets of Cairo,” said Abdel Nour, adding that security has always been good in the main tourist destinations across the country.
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